ISLAMABAD:he transfer of Pakpattan’s district police officer (DPO) and hinted towards summoning the chief minister of the province over alleged misuse of authority under Article 62(1)(f).

Inspector General Punjab (IGP) Kaleem Imam was instructed by the court to probe the matter and questioned the chief minister’s personal staff officer (PSO), Ahsan Gujjar, over his role in the incident. Objecting to Gujjar’s instructions to DPO Gondal to apologise to Khawar Maneka, the chief justice expressed his displeasure over misuse of influence. However, Gujjar denied any involvement in the matter.

During the hearing, Maneka also narrated the incident of his daughter being stopped by ‘drunk’ police officials on the night of August 5. The chief justice expressed remorse over police’s behaviour with Maneka’s daughter and apologised on behalf of the nation.

Defending the steps taken by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, Advocate General Punjab Shan Gul said the chief minister acted in line with tribal traditions. Justice Umar Ata Bandial stated that the country functions under laws and not on the norms of tribal society.

The bench also questioned the role played by an intelligence officer in the episode and warned the official for calling DPO Gondal after the incident.

On August 31, the court questioned why Punjab CM interfered in police matters as it made it clear that political interference in police will not be tolerated. The court also directed DPO Rizwan Gondal and Regional Police Officer Shariq Kamal to file affidavits regarding the statements given in the courtroom about the whole affair surrounding the transfer.